Locking flap for brief cases



United States Patent LOCKING FLAP FOR BRIEF CASES Samuel Perlin, RoslynHeights, N. Y., assignor to Savoy Leather Mfg. Corp., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application May 20, 1957, Serial No. 660,119

4 Claims. (Cl. 1501.6)

The present invention relates to improvements in the mounting of thelocking flap on a brief case. More particularly, the invention isdirected to the pivotal mounting of the flexible locking flap so that,when the brief case is opened as by spreading the pivotal frame at theupper end of the case, the locking flap may be pivoted away from theregion directly over the opened case to facilitate handling, e. g.,insertion and withdrawal of the contents from the brief case. Theinvention includes the specific mounting of the flexible locking flap ina manner preventing cracking of the material of the flap (normally anddesirably leather) as a result of excessive and repeated flexure. Theinvention also includes, as a feature thereof, the positioning of thepivotal securing means on the posts upon which :he conventional brief.case handle is normally mounted to thereby provide an extremely simpleand yet highly eflicient and attractive brief case combination in whichthe locking flap is securely and elfectively mounted in simple mannerand which is nevertheless accomplished at minimum cost and withsubstantial enhancement in the efliciency with which the brief case canbe used as a result of the pivotal movability of the locking flap.

In accordance with the invention, the locking flap is mounted so thatthe trailing end thereof is pivotal with respect to the rear section orback position of the brief case to permit the forward or locking endthereof to swing through an are. This pivotal mounting is preferablyachieved by having the trailing end of the locking flap mounted betweenupstanding posts secured to the rear section of the case. This may bedone in many ways, a preferred construction being to clamp the trailingend of the locking flap within the open forward extremity of a channelmember, this channel member surrounding a bar which extends horizontallyalong the length of the brief case at the top thereof. The barpreferably extends entirely through the channel member, and ispreferably mounted for pivotal movement in upright posts which aresecured to the upper end of the back portion of the brief case. Inaccordance with preferred practice of the invention, the bar is deformedadjacent the upright posts to thereby provide a permanent mount for thebar. If the trailing end of the locking flap is sufiiciently wide, or ifthe channel member is sufiiciently wide, the deformation of the bar maybe eliminated. The upright posts, in accordance with the invention,preferably perform a dual function in that these upright posts alsoserve as a pivotal support for the handle which is normally employed incarrying the brief case.

The invention will now be more fully described in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which an illustrative brief case constructed inaccordance with the invention is shown, it being understood that thebrief case shown in the drawings is simply illustrative and that thescope of the invention will be set forth in the claims since manyvariations in structure will become evident to those skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is a partial front elevation of the upper central portion of abrief case showing the locking flap, the bandle, and the mounting ofthese structures at the upper end of the back portion of the brief case.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the lines 2-2 of Fig.- 1 and showingthe brief case in its locked carrying position with the handle upright.v

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the brief case unlockedwith the pivotal frame at the upper end of the frame opened with thelocking flap pivoted away from the region directly overlying the openedcase for the purpose of facilitating insertion and withdrawal of thebrief cases contents.

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the locking flap with thechannelmember secured thereto, the channel sember being in operativeposition surrounding the pivotal bar about which the locking flapswings.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and with reference to Fig.1, there is shown a partial view of the front of a brief case which isgenerically identified by the assembly 13. Many other combinations oftongue and. locking or grasping assemblies are Well known and areincluded in the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the upper extremity of the rear section 11 isnormally provided with a stiffening element 16 (frequently a part of apivotal frame assembly as.

shown in Fig. 3) upon which is mounted, in the form of the inventionwhich is illustrated, a post support 17 to which is secured a pluralityof handle supporting posts 18. The handle 19 is pivotally mounted uponthe handle supporting posts 18 by means of the conventional pivot pin20, there being a pair of post supports 17 each carrying a pair ofspaced upstanding posts 18 between which is mounted an end 21 of thehandle 19.

It will be observed that the locking flap 14 is fastened (by means ofeyelet fasteners 22) within the forward extremity of a U-shaped channelmember 23, which is preferably made of metal. The use of eyelessfasteners is simply illustrated and many variations may be used as willbe more fully set forth hereinafter. The channel member 23 surrounds abar 24 and the bar 24 has its ends mounted in the inner posts 18. Fig. 1also shows a preferred mounting of the bar 24. The bar 24 can beinserted between posts 18 before the posts 18 are mounted on the support17 otherwise the bar 24 is inserted in holes or bores in the posts 18and is then crimped or otherwise deformed as shown at 25 to prevent thebar 24 from being removed from its mounted position between the innerposts 18. If. the locking flap is sufficiently wide, crimping of themetal bar may be dispensed with.

In the specific form 'of the invention shown in Fig. 1, it will be seenthat the mounting of the locking flap 14 is achieved without any fixedsecurement of the flap to the rear section of the brief case and thatthe inner posts 18 perform a dual function in that these inner postssimultaneously support the handle 19 through the pin 20 and they alsosupport the locking flap 14 through the bar 24. As will be evident, thisleads to economy and simplicity in construction.

It is essential in accordance with the invention that the locking flap14 be pivotally mounted. In this regard, the U-shaped channel member 23may loosely surround the bar 24 or the bar 24 may be pivotal within thesocket that receives the same in the posts 18 or the locking flap 14 maybe pivotal as a result both of the pivotal mount- Patented Nov. 11,1958- ingofthebar 24 and also of the looseness of theengagement betweenthe bar 24 and its surrounding channel member 23. The specific formwhich is selected to permit pivotal movement of the locking flap 14 isimmaterial. To briefly indicate the many variations which are herepermissible it will be noted that the U-shapcd member may be a singlepiece ora plurality of separatepieces spaced apart along the length ofthe bar 24. The U- shaped member can be eliminated as by the use of a.

spiral binder passing around the bar 24 and through openings inthetrailing end of the flap 14. Spaced rings may be used in place of thespiral binder. Even the bar 24 may be eliminated as by having lateralprojections on the ends of the channel members or by the use of separatemetal members sectioned at each side of the trailing end qfthefl pReferring to Fig. 2, ,the briefcase is again shown in the positionpictured in Fig. 1, e. g. ,the brief case being in its lockedcarryingposition withthe handle 19 upright and the tongue 01: the locking flap14 beingreceived withinthe lock 26 which is 'secured to the frontsections 12 of the briefcase 10. I A

The invention is most clearly pictured in Fig. 3 which is a view similarto Fig. 2 and showing the brief case with the pivotal frame as the upperend of the case opened. Fig. 3 shows the positions of the handle 19 andthe locking flap 14 in the positions which these elements occupy whenthe case is opened. It will be seen that the initial position of thelocking fiap 14 is shown in phantom and that the locking flap 14directly overlies the opened brief case 10. There is also shown in fulllines the pivotal position of locking flap 14 and it will be seen thatthere is no need to flex the locking flap as is conventional and whichquickly leads to destruction of this flap' or loosening of the sewn seamsecuring the'locl ing flap to the brief case. Fig. 3 further shows thehandle 19 in its upstanding carrying position, this position beingindicated in phantom. The movement oifthehandle 19 is indicated by thearrow 3t) and the movement ofthe locking flap 14 to permit unobstructedaccess to the interior of the brief case 10 is designated by the arrow.31.

The specific manner of securing the channeimember 23 to the bar 24 isnot a feature of the invention since securement may be achieved in anumber of different manners. There has already been described thesecurement of the channel member 23 'by means of eyelet fasteners 22which function to clamp the legs of the channel member to the leatherlocking flap. In Fig. 4, there is shown in perspective and 'on anenlarged scale another suitable securement. Specifically, it will beobserved that the locking flap 1 4 is inserted within the legs 32' ofthe U-shaped channel member 23 which encircles the bar '24 andse'curcment is achie'vedby forming prongs 33 and forcing these into theleather of the locking flap 14, it being understood that the prongs 33in the upper leg 32 are also present in the lower leg 32. The channelmember 23 may be secured by simple clamping without the formation ofprongs or the channel member may have its legs constituted by spacedprongs in the form of a comb. The legs 32 may be perforated andsecurement effected by sewing. Even stapling may be employed. The member23 is preferably of metal, but cloth or leather, etc., may be used in aless costly construction. I v

As will be appreciated, the essential feature of the present inventionis the pivotal mounting of the flexible #991 ts. aotma PQ jFi o y stContents a an opened brief case. This feature of the invention has beenillustrated in its presently preferred form but various modificationscan be made as has been discussed and as will be evident to thoseskilled in the art and the invention is defined in the claims whichfollow.

I claim:

1. A brief case comprising a rear section and a front section, a framecomprising relatively pivotal elements interconnecting said rear andfront sections, a locking section mounted on said front section, a pairof upstanding posts mounted at the upper end of said rear section,U-shaped channel means pivotally connected to said posts, a flexiblelocking flap mounted upon said rear section, said flexible locking flaphaving'one end thereof secured within the open forward extremity of saidU- shaped channel means with the other end of said flap being adapted toengage said locking section whereby said locking flap may be pivotedaway from'the region directly over'the opened case to facilitateinsertion and withdrawal of the contents thereof.

2. A brief case comprising a rear section and a front section, a framecomprising relatively pivotal elements interconnecting said rear andfront sections, a locking section mounted on said front section, a pairof upstanding posts mounted at the upper end of said rear section, a barextendingbetween and connected to said posts, a flexible lockingflapjmounted upon said rear section, said flexiblej locking flap having oneend thereof connected to saidfbar forpivotal movement about the axis ofsaid bar withithe other end of said flap being adapted to engagesaidldcking s'ec'tionwhereby said locking flap may be pivoted away from"the region directly over the opened ease'tofailitate insertion andwithdrawal of the contents thereof.

3.A brief case comprising a rear section and a front section, a framecomprising relatively pivotal elements interconnecting said "rear andfront sections, a locking section mounted on said front section, a pairof upstanding posts mounted at the upper end of said rear section, ahorizontal bar extending between said posts, a U -shaped channel membersurrounding said bar, a flexible locking flap niounted upon said rearsection, said flexible locking flap-having one end thereof securedwithin the open forwarde'xtr'emity of said U-shaped channel member withth'efotherend of said flap being adapted to engage said locking sectionwhereby said locking flap may be pivoted away from the regiondirectlyover the opened case to facilitate. insertion and withdrawal of thecontent thereof.

4;""Ina briefcase, a rear section, a pair of posts secured'to'said rearsection, a bar mounted between said posts; .the portions of said baradjacent said posts being deformed to preventremoval of said bar frombetween said posts, a U-shaped channel member surrounding said bar, said,bar extending entirely through said channel member and a locking flaphaving one end thereof clamped within the open forward extremity of saidU- shaped channel member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS736,095 Schmidt Nov. 19, 1929 1,974,382 Walker Sept. 1s, 1934 2,640,885Kuhlik June 2, 1953

